Restoration Update -July 30,2021: 1962 Holman Moody Challenger III’ s windshield and gas tanks
Rob Ida of Ida Automotive has provided this restoration update.
Check out the over 60 comments posted on Rob Ida's Facebook page.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Restoring the lightweight plastic windows
Rob Ida: Our intern from PennTech is wet sanding the Holman Moody plastic window up to 8000 grit and polishing for clarity. The decision was made to restore the clarity of the originals versus replacing with new plastic.
Rear Window
Reinstalling the original custom-made Holman Moody gas tanks
Preparing the windshield
Rob Ida: July 23, 2021 Howard Kroplick’s Holman Moody Challenger III has a lower roof than a stock Falcon body requiring a cut down windshield. Starting with a new windshield, I visited my great long time friend Rich Bozzelli to lend a hand. He makes it look easy, but it takes years of experience to have the “touch” that he has. Rich is an amazing guy (like 25 Wally’s in TAD if you know you know). He cut 4.5” off of the safety laminate glass and we installed the windshield with rubber channel.
Engine Installation
July 20, 2021
Painting Challenger III
Rob Ida Facebook, July 11, 2021:
We’re very excited to complete the restoration of the Holman Moody Challenger III. 1962 Holman Moody built this race car for Ford Motor Co. it’s a 1962 Falcon body that was sectioned by 3”, Chopped 3”, hand fabricated lightweight aluminum fast back roof, deck lid, doors and hood. Howard Kroplick has purchased this one of a kind racer and we’re pleased to have been asked to bring it back to its 1962 race form.
Dashboard
Rob Ida Facebook, July 12, 2021
The 1962 Holman Moody Challenger III in the booth!
Panels in Booth
Hood and Deck Inners
Comments
Facebook Comments
Karen Lieberman: Beautiful color!
Karen Lieberman: Reminds me of “Waltz Blue”. ????
Rob Ida: Karen Lieberman yes! It does look like waltz blue!
Artie Pierce: Love that car .
John Ciccone: That’s awesome
Al Liebmann: Wow that’s awesome
Robert Jones: Whoa Now?!
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Justin Morrison: ABSOLUTELY stunning!
Richard Lentinello: Looking great!!!!!
Tom Holder: Awesome Work
Ryan Tuttle: That color laid nicely on that custom body.
Erik Warren Anderson: Amazing color! What color is that?
Rob Ida: Erik Warren Anderson, Ford Team color
Erik Warren Anderson: Rob Ida thanks. Saw it and thought that should be the color of my harley when I repaint it.
Randy Davis: Awesome
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Joe Gambino: Beautiful what is it rob a falcon?
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Rob Ida: Joe Gambino, it’s a 1962 Falcon that Holman Moody chopped 3” and sectioned 3” for FoMoCo. Alloy doors, hood, deck and Fastback roof
Joe Gambino: Rob, Love it very cool ????
Stephen Paul Kenney: Another award winning show car
Alex Finigan: What condition was it in when you got it?
Rob Ida: Alex Finigan somewhere between great and excellent
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Thom Speed: Beautiful
Larry Blanchet: Love the color!
Tom Cotter:Man, you guys work quick! Impressive.
Scott Lachenauer: Love the color. Close to my barracuda color
Tom Montgomery: Gorgeous!!!!! Love the color!
Charles Pivirotto: Love it! Great work!
David Fansin: Hell yes !!!!!!
Wanda Blanchet: Love the color
Jared Lapp: Niiiice
Artie J. Schilling: Super Cool!
Rich Bozzelli: Great color nice job ????
Scott Snizek: That’s a beautiful blue
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Mario Colasuonno: Very very cool!!!
Anthony Kent Writtenberry: Nice‼️
Lisa Conte-Wiener: That is a great color.
Tim Beeler: Great color ..
Brian Tanti: Beautiful work Rob ????
Clint Grantham: What a dream car to work on.
Keith Moritz: Love the color.
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Steven Busch: The legend coming to life…..
David Scott Coker: Please post more updates.
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Phil Palmer: I like it!!!
Bob Greenhaus: That’s going to be beautiful!
Chad Matthew Hill: Damn that was fast.
Skot Randall: That’s badass
Alexander Soultanis: Lookin’ good!
Don Hilliard: What color is that? It’s beautiful.
David Jurek IDA Automotive steel or aluminum rivets? Dissimilar metals do not move at the same rate.
David Jurek I’d like to know how the aluminum fast back roof was attached to the remaining body, riveted ? Had to be some mechanical attachment, the 2 metals can’t be welded.
David Jurek: they used red metal rivets
Stan Fairlane: The Holman & Moody book was written by the guy who does the “Barn Find Hunter” series of videos on YouTube. Tom Cotter
Steven Mustakas: Cool
Rich Smith Somethings are stylish but the rear widow something out of the 40’s. Ford must have pulled some budget from this project.
Eric Kootte Weird how I know I’ve seen pictures of this car and never had any idea what it was or that it even existed. Very cool project!
Jimmy Holt: Wow, way cool!
Leroy Goodman Incredible
That’s going to be beautiful!
Chad Matthew Hill: Damn that was fast.
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Pat Clemente: Will it be shown when done?
Steve Van Blarcom: Your really moving on this one. ???????? looks great.
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John Ciccone: Russ Montelbano is killing it
Based on the preliminary photos (and video here), it’s clear this build is heading towards the trophy. Congrats to the IDA team’s amazing work and to Howard for finding her. Good luck all, I’d love to see her completed someday while sitting in the sunshine.
Vanity car? What was going on in the minds at H & M?
Wonderful progress report on a very significant car. I do not participate in Facebook and the era of the car is not my focus but this is one super neat preservation and restoration of a great machine!
This was a new one to me. Fantastic!